CHICAGO (February 1, 2019) – The Loyola University Chicago men's soccer program announced Ricardo Pinto to the coaching staff for the 2019 season. Pinto most recently served as the assistant coach at University of North Carolina-Wilmington. He will work primarily with the Rambler goalkeepers.
 
"Our entire program is excited to welcome Coach Ricardo Pinto to Loyola. Ricardo comes highly regarded, and from a very successful program at UNC-Wilmington," head coach Neil Jones said. "After meeting with him on campus, and speaking to many of his former colleagues, we knew that he would be a great fit for the Men's Soccer program. Ricardo will hit the ground running with recruiting, training, as well as alumni and community relations, and our summer camp programs. We're very happy to welcome him on board."
 
Pinto is fresh off a one-year stint with a Seahawks team that qualified for the 2018 NCAA Tournament with a 12-5-3 record. Under his guidance, UNCW finished 18^th nationally in team goals against per game and 19^th nationally in team save percentage. Pinto also coached goalkeeper Ryan Cretens to a Second Team All-CAA honor.
 
A 2016 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Pinto's first job out of college was spending the 2017 season at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. He helped the Hatters post a 7-7-2 record and capture the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season championship. He coached the conference's Goalkeeper of the Year in Joseph Melong and A-Sun Freshman of the Year Deniz Dogan as the Hatters finished conference play unbeaten at a 4-0-2 clip.
 
Pinto was also a member of the coaching staff at GPS Florida, serving as the Director of Goalkeeping while acting as the head coach for the U-12 GPS Florida Select I team.
 
Prior to his arrival at Stetson, Pinto served as an assistant coach at Iowa Lakes Community College. The program registered a 14-5-0 record and earned a No. 15 national ranking with him on staff.
 
A native of Beaverton, Oregon, Pinto earned his 'D' license from the United States Soccer Federation in December of 2017. That same year, he earned his Master's Degree from the University of North Dakota in Sport Management.

"I'm extremely humbled to receive this opportunity here at Loyola University Chicago," Pinto said. "I'd like to thank Coach Jones for allowing me the chance to work alongside Coach Flinn and Coach Barnes. The moment that I stepped on campus and met all the players I knew that this was the place where I wanted to be. I'm excited to continue to build upon the success that Coach Mauro achieved before me."
 
Jones and his staff return 19 letterwinners, including three goalkeepers from last year's squad that went 10-7-2 and finished as the Missouri Valley Conference runner-up.

#OnwardLU